The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-04-13
HOW KANSAS WOMEN VOTED.
Unheard-of Scenes at the POlls-DivisiOn
Between Husbands and Wives.


Woman suffrage made its initial expert
ment in Kansas Tuesday. The reports
from various parts of the State are strongly
divergent, but a summary of the field seems
to giye.the general conclusion, that the wom-
en- added TO the Republican msjorities.
The registration was largely from the lower
class and most general among the negroes.
In some places where intense local interest
proved the incentive, the better class of
white women were represented but, even
there. they were IN the minority.
In LeavenwoIth, where the fight was
most bitter. and where the partisans of
woman suffrage had massed their leaders.
it would be difficult for an outsider 10 APP
pIeoiate the Intense feeling that was preva
lent throughout the campaign and espe-
cially to-day
For four years the city has been nomin-
ally under Democratic rule, although its Of
6cers were elected by Republican votes,
and were really Independent The Repub-
licaDs, led by DR.. Anthony, editor Of the
Times, have been using the Prohibition
faction to defeat the united Democratic and
Independent parties.
The woman suffrage movement while an
old question, owes its present impetus to
the prohibition feeling. The bill intro
duced in the Legislature, while general IN
its municipal provisions, was intended TO
have special reference to this city. 1t is
admitted that it added to the Republican
strength here 1000 women votes from the
lower classes, 600 of which were colored
and incapable of reading. Seven hundred
women of the better classes, in view of tuls
formidable organization, were induced 10
register and cast their Influence with the
better classes, but they are so far OF =
weighed by the rougher element inv =
duced that the election of the People
ticket Is a matter of great doubt.
The purifying influence of woman's vote
has proven a deplorable failure here. It's
introduction has been disturbing element
rather than a benefit. The women brought
to bear influence and pressure are as
corrupting as are those of the male ma
chine. Money has been used. Instead of
lending refining atmosphere to the
election the contest has simply developed
the less admirable qualities of the gentle
sex.
The greatest enthusiasm prevailed here
among the women, who were the first at
the polls this mornin9. In one ward line
of fully zoe stood in place for over an hour.
A fence divided the window of the polling
places. On one side the women voted and
on the other the men. Every available
vehicle in the city was run for their ac-
commodation. Each vehicle was in charge
of a female enthusiast. The wealthy ladies
in fit of desperation placed their pri-
vate carriages at work. Early in the
day a stampede occurred in one ward
owing to the efforts of some women to in
huence the vote of another. The men
quickly took part in the discussion, and
several knock downs occurred in short
order. The women fed preciptately. Three
arrests were made, but not before CHIEF oil
Police Roberts who led the squad in that
particular ward, had received a painful,
81 IN fho rfrhi
temple. At one poll a man and his wife
advanced to vote.
"What is the use in this?" the husband
asked. I'VE are voting exactly opposite
each other and one vote Offsets the other. u
They argued not to vote and departed with
the understanding that they were paired.
In a short time the woman returned aud
deposited her vote alone. An emphatic
example of the disturbing influence of the
new order of things was TO uHd IN the fact
that the police were called upon to inter
fere in dispute between man and wife,
who began quarTeling at the polls and were
about to come to blows.
The fact is undeniable, however, that the
new element has proven potent facto,,
Needy, the peoples candidate for Mayor
had a large majority at his election, and
his popularity had increased, but the new
vote has made his re election so doubtful
by 800 majority. The opposition claim the
day by an equal number.
At Lawrence, where one half the ful
registration was women, the woman sui
frage movement had probably one or the
most important tests in the State. The
day really began last night when the Re
publicans held a mass-meeting at which
1000 people were present, nee Fly one-hall
of whom were women. 1t was one of the
/ L a 2
Lawrence. Two judges, colored woman
prominent lawyer, and two well-knoWr
ladies of culture addressed the meeting
The speech of the colored woman, Mrs
Stevens, was received with tremendous ap
plause The ladies have turned out in full
force to-day and nearly all of the 1, 1O4 reg
isteIed women voted.
A hard fight was made against Baker
the Republican candidate for Mayor, or
account of his alleged immortality. The
women, Notwithstanding the charges
against his character elected him by the
largest majority a Mayor ever received in
Lawrence. Many amusing incidents oc
cured. The white women came in theil
own carriages, but the colored danes snd
damsels rode at the expense Of somebody
in hacks and dressed in their very best rigs
They fully appreciate the dignity of then
position. In very few cases families are
divided.
There amt no dinner for me to-day,
remarked a colored pressman, 'the Ole
woman's gone to election" and he sadly
scrubbed the forms. observing, 81 tried tt
get her to pair off with me, since. we are fo
different men, but she said she was goinc
to vote anyhow, because the preacher told
her she had to. In nearly every case
however the women voted as their hus
bands told them to. Old colored women
being unable to read, in nearly every cas-
| brought with them some female friend Il
read their ticket to them. They were no
willing to trust the men. One old aunti'
| said:
1T pears to me sorter queer dat ont
dicket am Republican and de odder on
Union. l thought de Republican ticke
was de Union ticket, and dat de Democra
| ticket was de Rebel ticket"
The strict obs rvance OF the hfty-foo
! law and the presence of ladies made tn,
| election an unusually quiet one. A chall
mark fifty feet from the polls at each votin.
place was the dead line over which no on
dared pass except to vote and immediately
| in the city to-day.
The Republican ticket is elected for tn
| first time in the municipal election il
I twelve years. The women have done 1t
because they.are Republicans almost uni
formly, and would not even scrach
| ticket.
| Although Atchison is one OF the largest
towns in Kansas, only 1856 voters registered
| or these over 100 were colored women
and the msior1ty of the others were widow